THE SHADOWLESS TOWER – ★★★☆

Chinese film set in Beijing about a restaurant critic and a complicated collection of family and other relationships; he is divorced and living alone, with this daughter being raised by his sister and brother in law. (Why he isn’t raising his own child isn’t explained). There’s a slightly awkward sub plot around the young photographer who assists with his reviews. And the relationship (or lack of) with his father. This isn’t a film with a huge narrative direction, but was watchable in itself.

THEATER CAMP – ★★★☆

A good closing night film for MIFF; nothing very hard about this American comedy mockumentary, set at a drama camp for kids. There’s a reasonable amount of premise that has been covered before by Christopher Guest’s films and American camp movies (it almost felt strange not seeing Parker Posey in this). Not quite as glossy as some of its predecessors; there seemed to be a bit of confusion around the key story it was trying to tell amongst the various characters. That said, it was enjoyable, and had several laugh out loud moments.